by Patrick J. Buchanan via humanevents.com
Returning from Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta dropped some jolting news.
Asked by CBS's Scott Pelley if Iran could have a nuclear weapon in 2012, Panetta replied: "It would probably be about a year before they could do it. Perhaps a little less. But one proviso, Scott, is that if they have a hidden facility somewhere in Iran that may be enriching fuel."
Panetta was saying the mullahs are a year or less away from an atom bomb, and if they have a hidden site for enriching uranium to weapons grade, they may be even closer.
"That is a red line for us," Panetta added. "If we get intelligence they are proceeding with developing a nuclear weapon, then we will take whatever steps necessary to deal with it."
Panetta is raising the specter of pre-emptive war.
When Pelley's report hit, however, the Pentagon immediately began to walk the cat back.
"The secretary was clear that we have no indication that the Iranians have made a decision to develop a nuclear weapon," said Pentagon press secretary George Little. "He (Panetta) didn't say that Iran would, in fact, have a nuclear weapon in 2012."
Little added that U.N. inspectors remain in Iran and have access to its uranium stockpile, and should Iran attempt a "breakout" by diverting low-enriched uranium to a hidden facility to convert it to weapons grade, U.N. inspectors would instantly detect the diversion.
"We would retain sufficient time under any such scenario to take appropriate action," said Little.
In short, the Pentagon does not believe Iran has made a decision to build atomic weapons, and the department is confident that, should it do so, the United States would have ample warning.
Little's definitive statement, "We have no indication that the Iranians have made a decision to develop a nuclear weapon," coincides with the consensus of all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency, in December 2007.
In that report, the entire U.S. intelligence community stated unanimously, with "high confidence," that Iran had given up its drive for an atom bomb back in 2003.
Yet the Pentagon's categorical statement this week, and the 2007 declaration by the entire U.S. intelligence community that Iran abandoned its bomb program in 2003, raises a question.
How could the International Atomic Energy Agency conclude, as it did last month, that Iran "has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device"? Did the IAEA discover clandestine bomb-building that our own intelligence community failed to detect?
If Iran is doing experiments consistent with building an atomic bomb, as the IAEA reports, why does the U.S. intelligence community not revise and update its 2007 report? Why are CIA and DIA silent?
This is no minor matter. For not only have Panetta and Barack Obama talked about "all options on the table" regarding Iran -- i.e., we do not rule out military strikes -- so, too, have the GOP presidential candidates, save Rep. Ron Paul.
Sen. Rick Santorum says we are already at war:
"Iran is a country that has been at war with us since 1979. ... The Iranians are the existential threat to Israel."
In fierce rebuttal to Paul's suggestion that the real threat to America is being stampeded into a new war, Rep. Michele Bachmann retorted:
"We know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Iran will take a nuclear weapon, they will use it to wipe our ally Israel off the face of the map. ... The Iran Constitution ... states unequivocally that their mission is to extend jihad across the world and eventually to set up a worldwide caliphate."
But is all this consistent or credible?
If Iran is an "existential threat" to Israel and intends to use a bomb it is now building on Israel, why have the Israelis, with 200 to 300 nuclear weapons, who have bombed both Iraqi and Syrian nuclear sites, not removed that "existential threat" themselves?
Second, assume the Bachmann horror scenario that we know "beyond the shadow of a doubt" that Iran, as soon as it gets the bomb it is building, will use it on Israel. If that is so, who does Bachmann think will then be establishing that caliphate in an Iran that an Israeli retaliatory strike will have reduced to atomic ash?
Lest we forget, the Israelis are a "Never Again!" nation.
And there is another serious matter here. While Obamaites, neocons and Republicans are talking about "all options on the table," the war option, if we still have a Constitution, cannot be used against a nation that has not attacked us, unless Congress, which alone has the power to declare war, has authorized military action.
When did Congress tell Obama or any president he can bomb Iran as soon as he concludes Iran is building a nuclear weapon? If, after leaving Iraq, we are going into yet another war of choice, let the Congress debate and vote on this new war with Iran.
Panetta was saying the mullahs are a year or less away from an atom bomb, and if they have a hidden site for enriching uranium to weapons grade, they may be even closer.
"That is a red line for us," Panetta added. "If we get intelligence they are proceeding with developing a nuclear weapon, then we will take whatever steps necessary to deal with it."
Panetta is raising the specter of pre-emptive war.
When Pelley's report hit, however, the Pentagon immediately began to walk the cat back.
"The secretary was clear that we have no indication that the Iranians have made a decision to develop a nuclear weapon," said Pentagon press secretary George Little. "He (Panetta) didn't say that Iran would, in fact, have a nuclear weapon in 2012."
Little added that U.N. inspectors remain in Iran and have access to its uranium stockpile, and should Iran attempt a "breakout" by diverting low-enriched uranium to a hidden facility to convert it to weapons grade, U.N. inspectors would instantly detect the diversion.
"We would retain sufficient time under any such scenario to take appropriate action," said Little.
In short, the Pentagon does not believe Iran has made a decision to build atomic weapons, and the department is confident that, should it do so, the United States would have ample warning.
Little's definitive statement, "We have no indication that the Iranians have made a decision to develop a nuclear weapon," coincides with the consensus of all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency, in December 2007.
In that report, the entire U.S. intelligence community stated unanimously, with "high confidence," that Iran had given up its drive for an atom bomb back in 2003.
Yet the Pentagon's categorical statement this week, and the 2007 declaration by the entire U.S. intelligence community that Iran abandoned its bomb program in 2003, raises a question.
How could the International Atomic Energy Agency conclude, as it did last month, that Iran "has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device"? Did the IAEA discover clandestine bomb-building that our own intelligence community failed to detect?
If Iran is doing experiments consistent with building an atomic bomb, as the IAEA reports, why does the U.S. intelligence community not revise and update its 2007 report? Why are CIA and DIA silent?
This is no minor matter. For not only have Panetta and Barack Obama talked about "all options on the table" regarding Iran -- i.e., we do not rule out military strikes -- so, too, have the GOP presidential candidates, save Rep. Ron Paul.
Sen. Rick Santorum says we are already at war:
"Iran is a country that has been at war with us since 1979. ... The Iranians are the existential threat to Israel."
In fierce rebuttal to Paul's suggestion that the real threat to America is being stampeded into a new war, Rep. Michele Bachmann retorted:
"We know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Iran will take a nuclear weapon, they will use it to wipe our ally Israel off the face of the map. ... The Iran Constitution ... states unequivocally that their mission is to extend jihad across the world and eventually to set up a worldwide caliphate."
But is all this consistent or credible?
If Iran is an "existential threat" to Israel and intends to use a bomb it is now building on Israel, why have the Israelis, with 200 to 300 nuclear weapons, who have bombed both Iraqi and Syrian nuclear sites, not removed that "existential threat" themselves?
Second, assume the Bachmann horror scenario that we know "beyond the shadow of a doubt" that Iran, as soon as it gets the bomb it is building, will use it on Israel. If that is so, who does Bachmann think will then be establishing that caliphate in an Iran that an Israeli retaliatory strike will have reduced to atomic ash?
Lest we forget, the Israelis are a "Never Again!" nation.
And there is another serious matter here. While Obamaites, neocons and Republicans are talking about "all options on the table," the war option, if we still have a Constitution, cannot be used against a nation that has not attacked us, unless Congress, which alone has the power to declare war, has authorized military action.
When did Congress tell Obama or any president he can bomb Iran as soon as he concludes Iran is building a nuclear weapon? If, after leaving Iraq, we are going into yet another war of choice, let the Congress debate and vote on this new war with Iran.
Patrick J. Buchanan is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of Churchill, Hitler, and "The Unnecessary War": How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West Lost the World, The Death of the West, The Great Betrayal, A Republic, Not an Empire,Where the Right Went Wrong, and most recently Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025?
You can also follow Mr. Buchanan and Human Events on FACEBOOK.
Click Here to Become a Fan:
"...When did Congress tell Obama or any president he can bomb..."
ReplyDelete1950, Pat. Truman. Committed troops under a "UN mandate" to get S. Korea for the bankers... uh, to "fight communism".
Before then, presidents had to go to congress for war, just like it says in the Con. But after the banks and Israel created the CIA in 1947-50, wars started whenever they told their Oval Office servant to jump.
Pat Buchanan: You worked for Nixon and Reagan and been a flush Republican your whole life. You KNEW THIS. Had you told Dick or Ron, it probably wouldn't have done any good then. Why bug us NOW?
The system is dirty and must be replaced. The system includes MSM columnists who ALSO most be replaced.
The government had better start asking the taxpayers if they are okay with spending their money on this garbage.
ReplyDeleteAmerican citizens do not realize that this years taxes owed will be far worse than those owed last year because of government overseas dramas.
We are paying for more and more and getting less.
Wake up people.
i remember from my school days at Brandeis University in1970's my student adviser's words that when he was growing up that his parents used the term "‘goyishe kup,’" meaning that the "Non-Jews are Stupid"
ReplyDeleteI learned that of "GOYISHE KUP" means that the "Cattle are STUPID".I agree with the Jewish saying that American "GOYISHE KUP" are indeed" Stupid" as they believe that Muslem Kids who were unable to Fly a Cessna plane took it upon themselves to FLY a Boeing 767 & outwitted the US Military & Civilian authorities. The "Jewish Lightning Insurance Scam" of the 1960's is still alive and well has been put to use by Larry Silverstein in putting 15 million cash down and comming out with 7 billion dollars for buidings where it would have cost a billion dollars to remove the asbestos The Americans believe that they decide who is elected President or for that that actual VOTE is really counted in deciding who represents them in the White House and congress. bollyn.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVTXbARGXso http://www.911missinglinks.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxnpujfanUM Yeh I agree that the AmericanNon-Jews are indeed "GOYISHE KUP" or "STUPID CATTLE"!
The Israeli Defense Firm That Tallies The Iowa Caucus
By Christopher Bollyn
1-1-8
The Iowa caucus is only a few days away and the nation's attention will be directed to the results, which signify the beginning of the U.S. presidential race. But does anyone watch who tallies the results of the Iowa caucus?
The Iowa caucus results were tallied in 2004 by a company that is headed by a man whose company was bought by Elron Electronics, the Israeli defense firm. I suspect that it will be the same this year. Don't expect to see any grassroots political activists doing the tally in Iowa. The Israeli defense establishment takes care of that part of the American "democratic" election process.
Buchanon had everything it took to become another Ron Paul except honesty, courage and genuine political convictions. Instead of being what he could have been, he sold out to the establishment for the purpose of becoming a member of the phoney intellectual round table discussions that are passed off to psuedo intellectuals and a gullible public as genuine political commentary.
ReplyDeletePat once was a contender, but sold his soul; knowing it is easier, more lucrative, and requiring far less courage to act as he does now- controlled opposition.
ReplyDeletePat is a safety valve. An actor who is there to make the audience believe that the game isn't 100% rigged.
I don't knock Buchanan for it. Revolution (or just plain standing up to your masters) is a young man's game. And Pat is more interested in his legacy than in America's future. He's a collaborator.
"Pat is a safety valve. An actor who is there to make the audience believe that the game isn't 100% rigged."
ReplyDeleteYea, in that respect, Buchanan is much like Ronald Reagan from whom he may have acquired the skill of passing himself off as a genuine conservative while in reality being the exact opposite. I must admit that both of these opportunist had me fooled for many years.
Do you think that Congress won't vote yes to a war with Iran? You people are delusional. This is all planned and you little slave peasants aren't going to stop it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mr. Buchanan.They should go by the Constitution with open debate with physical evidence or quit. Without procedure, it would be a cover-up of conspiracy to commit first degree murder.And since there is no physical evidence of Iran planning to attack the U.S.A., this attack will be first degree murder no matter what the excuse.
ReplyDeleteHow are you going to "make" congress do anything when they only respond to bribes? The only way voters could conceivably make congress do anything would be by performing the mathamatical impossibility of outbidding the AIPAC lobby.
ReplyDeleteActually, a war with Iran will cause Israel's destruction once and for all because Muslim nations aren't going to just sit back and watch Iran get attacked. Also, if the US or Israel attacks Iran, Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz and oil prices will hit $300 a barrel. Iran can effectively shutdown the world's oil supply for a long time. These neocon fools don't really know what they are doing, our Iraq & Afghanistan blunders prove that. If we attack Iran, get ready for WW3.
ReplyDeleteCongress must vote on any war on Iran. Congress must show it is in the interests of the US to go to war with Iran. Congress and its Neocon supporters must be held accountable. They have too much influence over everything - wars, restrictive laws, calender (CE and BCE) and even morphing Christmas into "holiday." (tell a homeless person to have a nice vacation) Give these neocons guns and parachute, put them on a plane, and drop them in Iran. Or join a foreign army like "patriot" Rahm Emmanuel.
ReplyDeleteThe American Hebrew September 10, 1920:
ReplyDelete"The Bolshevist revolution in Russia was the work of Jewish brains, of Jewish dissatisfaction, of Jewish planning, whose goal is to create a new order in the world. What was performed in so excellent a way in Russia, thanks to Jewish brains, and because of Jewish dissatisfaction, and by Jewish planning, shall also, through the same Jewish mental and physical forces, become a reality all over the world."
The governments of the peoples included in this world republic, with the aid of the victorious proletariat, all will fall without difficulty into Jewish hands. Private property will then be strangled by the Jewish directors, who will administer the state patrimony everywhere. Thus the promise of the Talmud will be fulfilled, that is, the promise that the Jews, at the arrival of the Messiah, will possess the key to the wealth of all the peoples of the earth."
- Baruch Levy, in a letter to Karl Marx, published in the Rothschild controlled La Revue de Paris, June 1, 1928.
The American Hebrew September 10, 1920:
ReplyDelete"The Bolshevist revolution in Russia was the work of Jewish brains, of Jewish dissatisfaction, of Jewish planning, whose goal is to create a new order in the world. What was performed in so excellent a way in Russia, thanks to Jewish brains, and because of Jewish dissatisfaction, and by Jewish planning, shall also, through the same Jewish mental and physical forces, become a reality all over the world."
The governments of the peoples included in this world republic, with the aid of the victorious proletariat, all will fall without difficulty into Jewish hands. Private property will then be strangled by the Jewish directors, who will administer the state patrimony everywhere. Thus the promise of the Talmud will be fulfilled, that is, the promise that the Jews, at the arrival of the Messiah, will possess the key to the wealth of all the peoples of the earth."
- Baruch Levy, in a letter to Karl Marx, published in the Rothschild controlled La Revue de Paris, June 1, 1928.